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Thursday, September 21, 2017

A group, Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative, has written President Muhammadu Buhari, demanding the details of his medical bill for the period of 104 days that he spent in the United Kingdom receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment. The group made

this demand in a letter dated September 12 written pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2011.PUNCH newspaper reports that ASRADI, in the said letter signed by its Executive Director, Adeolu Oyinloye, also wanted Buhari to disclose how much was spent on parking the presidential aircraft at Stansted Airport for the entire 104 days that the President spent in the UK.

“Who defrayed the parking charges of the aircraft that conveyed you to the United Kingdom? How many crew members accompanied you and the aircraft? For how long were the crew members stationed in the United Kingdom? How much was incurred in allowances for the crew? How much did it cost to accommodate the crew members in the United Kindgom?” the group queried.

ASRADI reminded Buhari that by the provision of the Freedom of Information Act, it is entitled to a response from the President within seven days.

The letter to Buhari was backed with another one addressed to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, wherein the group sought to know how much of foreign currency was released for the President’s medical treatment.

The letter to Emefiele read in part:

“Kindly furnish us with information on the amount of foreign currency you released so far (cash/cheque/bank transfer or any other payment mode) in respect of President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical treatment and aircraft parking fees at Stansted Airport in the United Kingdom.

“As the Freedom of Information Act 2011 prescribed, we expect your reply within seven days of the receipt of this application.”